JP2007129500A - Viewing system for content with cm - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a content viewing system capable of carrying out reproduction along with the intent of a content creator. <P>SOLUTION: In the content viewing system, the system comprises a streams server device and a reproducing device. The streams server device conducts stream transmission of a content information including a skip information for identifying a part where skip is permitted and a part where skip is not permitted in a content. The reproducing device receives the content information through a communication line, and extracts the skip information from the received content information. Upon acquisition of a skip instruction, the reproducing device determines whether a part of the content currently reproduced during the acquisition is the one where skip is permitted or the one where skip is not permitted based on the skip information, and controls skip of reproduction according to the determined result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a content viewing system. In particular, the present invention relates to a system suitable for viewing content information including skip information for identifying a portion in which content is permitted to be skipped and a portion that is not.

  The spread of the Internet has made it possible for end users to enjoy the distribution of various contents. In addition, streaming of music content, video content, etc. has made it possible to distribute content without infringing on the copy right, so content distributors can distribute content that takes copyright into consideration. It has become possible. For this reason, it is expected that the distribution of content by communication via the Internet will increase in the future.

As a streaming reproduction technique, for example, there is a technique according to Patent Document 1. With this technology, playback can be started from the middle of content during streaming playback. As a result, it is possible to distribute specific content at a specific time based on the program guide as in conventional broadcasting.
JP 2005-184323 A

  However, the advantage of content distribution by streaming playback is that a viewer can view favorite content at a favorite time and place. For this reason, it is considered that distributing content based on a program guide is not suitable for content distribution by streaming reproduction.

  Further, when playback from the middle of the content or fast-forward playback is performed, playback different from the content creator's intention is performed, and there is a problem that the desire to create content may be reduced.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a content viewing system that enables playback in accordance with the intention of the content creator.

  In order to achieve such an object, in the following, a stream server device for streaming content information including skip information for identifying a portion in which content is permitted to be skipped and a portion that is not, and a communication line are provided. When the content information is received via the network, the skip information is extracted from the received content information, and the skip command is acquired, the content part being played back at the time of acquisition is the part that is permitted to skip or the skip is permitted. There is provided a CM-attached content viewing system including a playback device that determines whether or not there is a part based on skip information and controls playback skip according to the determination result.

  With such a CM-attached content viewing system, it is possible to limit skipping in reproduction, so that reproduction can be performed in accordance with the intention of the content creator, and the problem is solved.

  In addition, the playback apparatus acquires and transmits playback part information including information indicating that the part of the content that has been played back, which indicates that the part that is not permitted to be skipped is played back. It may be like this.

  With such a CM-attached content viewing system, for example, by setting a portion that is not permitted to be skipped as an advertising portion, it is possible to appropriately calculate an advertising fee according to the reproduction of the advertisement. Also, the audience rating can be estimated by sampling. As a result, the consideration for providing the content can be calculated appropriately.

  In the present invention, playback is performed on the basis of content information that is stream-transmitted content information that includes skip information that identifies a portion of content that is allowed to be skipped and a portion that is not. Can be restricted, and reproduction can be performed in accordance with the intention of the content creator. In addition, since playback part information including information indicating that the part that is not permitted to be skipped by the playback device has been played back is acquired and transmitted, it is possible to provide advertisement fees and content by analyzing the playback part information. Charges can be calculated.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described as an embodiment with reference to the drawings. The invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the invention.

(Embodiment 1)
As Embodiment 1, a stream server device for streaming content information including skip information for identifying a portion in which content is permitted to be skipped and a portion not to be skipped, and receiving the content information via a communication line When the skip information is extracted from the received content information and the skip command is acquired, the skip information indicates whether the content part being played back is a part that is allowed to be skipped or a part that is not allowed to be skipped. A CM-based content viewing system including a playback device that makes a determination based on the determination result and controls skipping of playback according to the determination result will be described.

(Embodiment 1: System configuration)
FIG. 1 illustrates a functional block diagram of the CM-attached content viewing system according to the first embodiment. The CM-attached content viewing system 100 includes a stream server device 101 and a playback device 102.

  FIG. 1 shows a typical example of a content viewing system with CM. For this reason, two or more stream server devices may exist. Two or more playback devices may exist. Moreover, a server apparatus etc. may exist as another apparatus. For example, a logging server device that manages a log of content transmission and reproduction may be included.

  The stream server device and the playback device can communicate with each other via a communication line. A typical example of a communication line is the Internet.

Embodiment 1 Configuration of Stream Server Device
The stream server device 101 includes a stream transmission unit 103.

  The “stream transmission unit” 102 is a unit for transmitting a stream based on the content information. Since it is a “part for transmitting a stream based on content information”, the stream transmitting unit 103 may transmit the content information itself or the content in a stream. Further, the stream transmission unit 103 may transmit content information including a list such as a URL of the content, and stream transmission may be performed by referring to the URL included in the list on the playback device side. The stream transmission in this case may be performed from the stream server apparatus 101 or may be performed from another server apparatus. Note that “stream transmission” means that the content data is not played back after downloading all or most of the data, but the content data is transferred so that it can be played back in real time. To do.

  “Content information” is information including skip information. “Skip information” is information that identifies a portion of the content that is allowed to be skipped and a portion that is not allowed to be skipped in the playback apparatus. “Skip” refers to playback using a method other than the normal playback method. For example, playback is started from the next part of a specific part without playing a specific part, or double speed or triple speed. (N is a positive number smaller than 1 and slow playback is performed), or playback is performed retroactively (for example, playback is started again from a time position at which playback has already been performed). To start). There is a case of "trick play" instead of the term skip. The content information may include data constituting the content. For example, programs such as moving image information, still image information, music information, and games may be included. In this specification, data constituting content is simply referred to as “content”.

  Further, the skip information may indicate not only whether or not the skip is permitted but also whether or not the skip type is permitted. For example, the skip information may determine whether to allow skipping by a slider, whether to allow fast-forwarding by a button, and when to allow fast-forwarding, an upper limit and a lower limit of fast-forwarding speed. Moreover, the range of the time which can skip or fast-forward, and the length of a section may be defined. For example, only a portion of content corresponding to a maximum of 5 minutes is allowed to be fast-forwarded.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining generation of content information transmitted by the stream transmission unit 103. In FIG. 2A, content 201 and skip information 202 are multiplexed by multiplexer 203, and content information 204 is generated. For example, when the content is moving image information or music information reproduced along the time axis, the data constituting the content is input to the multiplexer 203 as time passes, as illustrated in FIG. 2B. Then, the skip information is input to the multiplexer 203 in parallel as information indicating whether or not the skip of the content portion input at that time is permitted. The portion displayed as “enabled” indicates that the skip is permitted, and the portion displayed as “disabled” indicates that the skip is not permitted.

  FIG. 3 exemplifies a list when the stream transmission unit 103 transmits content information including a list of content URLs and the like. In this example, mms: //123.45.67.89/part1. asf and mms: //234.56.78.90/part2. The content is reproduced according to the URL asf. At this time, “<Ref href =” mms: //123.45.67.89/part1. Asf “skip =“ disabled ”>” “disabled” causes “part1.part” sent from the host indicated by the IP address 123.45.67.89. In the reproduction of the content indicated by the path “asf”, skipping is not permitted, while mms: // 234.56.78.90/part2. In reproduction according to asf, it is indicated that skipping is permitted.

  The content information has been described as “including skip information”, but this does not mean that the skip information is described in a list such as the content URL as shown in FIG. . For example, the list may be information different from the content URL list and skip information, and these different information may be associated with each other.

  FIG. 4 is an example of a case where a list such as a content URL is associated with skip information. FIG. 4A shows a list of content URLs and the like. In this list, each content part is named. For example, by “<Entry name =“ part1 ”>”, mms: //123.45.67.89/part1. The content part by asf is given the name “part1”. FIG. 4B shows skip information. In FIG. 4B, the name given to the content portion is referred to, and it is shown whether skipping is permitted or not permitted in the portion referenced by the name. For example, “<Entry name =“ part1 ”skip =“ disabled ”>” indicates that skipping in the part named part1 is prohibited.

  It should be noted that the portion where skipping is not permitted does not need to be specified in units of content indicated by a URL or the like. For example, if the information to be streamed is video information, audio information, etc., a section using the time from the start is specified, and the skip information is configured not to allow skipping within that section. Also good. In the following description, it will be assumed that a part that is not permitted to be skipped and a part that is permitted to be specified are specified in units of content indicated by a URL, etc., but skipping is performed for each section such as the time of content playback. It is not intended to exclude the case where it is specified whether or not is permitted.

Embodiment 1 Processing of Stream Playback Device
FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing of the stream playback device. In step S501, it is determined whether transmission of content information is possible. For example, this determination is made depending on whether a request for content information is received from the playback apparatus. In step S502, content information is generated. For example, content and skip information are multiplexed using a multiplexer as shown in FIG. Alternatively, a list as exemplified in FIGS. 3 and 4 is generated. In step S503, the content information is transmitted.

  In the case where content information is transmitted in step S502, attribute information of the user of the playback device may be acquired in step S501 and the skip information corresponding to the attribute information may be generated. For example, if it is determined from the user's attribute information of the playback device that the user has rented a residence, the part of the advertisement that recommends the purchase of an apartment will be skip information that is not permitted to be skipped. Generate content information. The attribute information of the user of the playback device is acquired based on, for example, cookie information transmitted from a browser or the like, and content information is generated by referring to a table that associates attribute information with content that is not permitted to be skipped. It may be like this. Further, the location where the playback device is installed may be estimated from the IP address of the playback device, and skip information corresponding to the location may be generated. For example, skipping may not be permitted for a content portion composed of information about a facility existing in the vicinity of the place.

  Further, content information may be generated by determining skip information according to an advertisement fee paid by the advertiser or a content provision fee paid to the content provider. For example, content information may be generated such that the higher the advertising fee or content provision fee, the smaller the portion of content that is allowed to be skipped, for example, in inverse proportion.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 2, when the stream transmission unit 103 multiplexes content and skip information using a multiplexer, the processing of step S502 and step S503 is performed in parallel, and the content information generated by the multiplexer May be transmitted in real time.

  The processing of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 5 can be realized by using a computer as hardware and a program operating on the computer. For example, as a process corresponding to step S501, the process waits until a request for content information is transmitted to a specific port number. In step S502, the content information is recorded in a storage device such as a memory. In step S503, the content information recorded in the storage device is read out, and the content information is returned.

(Embodiment 1: Configuration of playback apparatus)
The playback device 102 includes a reception unit 104, a playback unit 105, a skip information extraction unit 106, a skip command acquisition unit 107, a skip permission / rejection determination unit 108, and a control unit 109.

  The “reception unit” 104 receives content information from the stream server apparatus 101 via a communication line.

  “Reproducing unit” 105 reproduces content based on the content information received by receiving unit 104. For example, when the content information received by the receiving unit 104 includes the content itself, the content is reproduced. Further, if the content information received by the receiving unit 104 is a list including the URL of the content, a request for the content indicated by the URL included in the list is performed, and reproduction is performed in response to the response to the request. . Note that the reproduction of the content in the reproduction unit 105 is preferably stream reproduction. That is, it is preferable that reproduction is performed in real time in response to reception of content information.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of a screen when content reproduction based on content information by the reproduction unit 105 is performed. A screen 601 is displayed on a display connected to or built in the playback apparatus 102. For example, the area 602 displays the content itself or a display based on the content. For example, if the content itself is video information, the still image or moving image is displayed. If the content is music information, an image that changes according to the title, artist name, or sound is displayed. Buttons 603, 604, 605, and 606 are buttons for controlling reproduction. For example, when the button 603 is pressed, the playback is paused. When the button 604 is pressed, playback is performed back in time. When the button 605 is pressed, playback is started. When pressed, playback is fast-forwarded. In the present embodiment, as described below, the effect of pressing these buttons is limited by the skip information included in the content information.

  A bar 607 indicates the overall length of the content and the like, and a slider 608 indicates the position of the currently reproduced portion with respect to the entire content. By moving the slider 608, the position of the currently reproduced portion of the content can be basically changed to an arbitrary position. However, in the present embodiment, the operation of the slider 608 is limited by the skip information included in the content information as described below.

  An area 609 indicates the positional position of the part currently being reproduced. For example, the position displayed by the time from the start of the content is indicated. It may be possible to perform skipping or the like by inputting a number or the like in the area displayed in this portion and changing the displayed time. In this case, in this embodiment, skipping and the like are limited as described below.

  The “skip information extraction unit” 106 extracts skip information from the content information received by the reception unit 104. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, when skip information and content are multiplexed by a multiplexer, the content and skip information are separated from the content information using a demultiplexer. Also, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the skip information is received in association with the content URL, the description part of the skip information is extracted by performing syntax analysis or the like.

  The “skip command acquisition unit” 107 acquires a skip command. For example, pressing of buttons 603, 604, 605, and 606 on the screen illustrated in FIG. 6 is detected, an operation on the slider 608 is detected, and an input to the area 609 is detected.

  Based on the skip information, the “skip permission / refusal determination unit” 108 determines whether the content part being played back by the playback unit 105 when the skip command is acquired is a part where skipping is permitted or a part where skipping is not permitted. judge. The “skip information” is skip information extracted by the skip information extraction unit 106.

  “Determining based on” means that the content of the skip information affects the determination result. For example, when the skip information obtained by using the demultiplexer from the content information when the skip command is acquired is “disabled”, it is determined that the skip is not permitted. In addition, in the case where reproduction is performed using the content information shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, mms: //234.56.68.90/part2. If the part indicated by the URL asf is being reproduced, it is determined that the part is permitted to be skipped. Further, it is determined whether or not a content portion such as a section where skipping is not permitted is being reproduced.

  When the skip information indicates whether or not the skip type is permitted, the skip permission / rejection determination unit 108 determines that the skip type acquired by the skip instruction acquisition unit 107 is within the permission range corresponding to the type. It is determined whether or not.

  The “control unit” 108 controls the skip in the reproduction unit 105 according to the determination result in the skip permission / rejection determination unit 108. For example, if the determination result indicates that the portion is not permitted to be skipped, the content being played back by the playback unit 105 is not skipped and played back. In other words, even if the buttons 603, 604, 605, 606 and the slider 608 are operated, or even if a numerical value for skipping is input in the area 609, the operation or input has no effect, and the content reproduction is changed. Continue as it is. If the determination result indicates that the part is allowed to be skipped, the playback unit 105 causes the skip. That is, the playback position changes or the playback speed changes (the playback may be stopped) according to the operation of the buttons 603, 604, 605, 606 and the slider 608 or the input of the area 609. To do.

  Further, when the skip information indicates whether or not the skip type is permitted, only the permitted type of skip or fast-forward within the upper limit of the speed is performed. For example, when fast-forwarding up to 2x is permitted, if 3x speed is specified, the speed is changed to 2x speed. It may be modified.

  Further, the skip permission / rejection determination unit 108 skips the skipped content portion that is currently being played back if the skipped content portion is in the middle of a portion that is not allowed to be skipped. The start position of the unpermitted part may be obtained and included in the determination result. As a result, if the content creator intends not to reproduce the content part in the middle, the intention can be reflected.

  FIG. 7 illustrates a case where skipping is performed in the middle of a portion that has not been skipped. For example, it is assumed that the content portion 701 is a portion where skipping is permitted, the content portion 702 is a portion where skipping is not permitted, and the content portion 703 is a portion where skipping is permitted. It is assumed that the user of the playback apparatus performs a skip operation such as fast forward after playing the part indicated by the arrow 704 and skips the playback of the part indicated by the arrow 705, and the end of the part indicated by the arrow 705 ends. Suppose that it is in the middle of the content portion 702. In this case, the skip permission / rejection determination unit 108 includes the start position of the content portion 702 in the determination result, and outputs the determination result to the control unit 109, so that playback by the playback unit 105 resumes from the start position of the content portion 702. Will do.

Embodiment 1 Processing of Playback Device
FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart for explaining processing of the playback device. In this flowchart, the content information and skip information are mainly assumed to be multiplexed by a multiplexer as illustrated in FIG. 2A.

  In step S801, it is determined whether the content information can be received. If the content information can be received, the process proceeds to step S802. If not, it is determined that a skip command can be acquired, and the process proceeds to step S806.

  In step S802, content information is received. This reception is mainly performed by the receiving unit 104. In step S803, skip information is extracted from the content information. This extraction is mainly performed by the skip information extraction unit 106. By this extraction, even if a table or the like indicating a correspondence relationship between which part or section of the playback position of the content is a part that is permitted to be skipped and which part or section is a part that is not permitted to be skipped is generated. Good. In step S804, the remaining content information extracted is reproduced. The “extracted remaining content information” means content corresponding to the content 201 shown in FIG. The reproduction is performed by the reproduction unit 105.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S805, and it is determined whether or not to end the entire process. If it is determined not to end the entire process, the process returns to step S801.

  In step S806, a skip command is acquired. This acquisition is mainly performed by the skip instruction acquisition unit 107. In step S807, it is determined whether skipping is permitted. This determination is mainly performed by the skip permission / rejection determination unit 108. In step S808, it is determined whether or not skipping is permitted by referring to the determination result. If permission is granted, the process proceeds to step S809. If the permission is not permitted, step S809 is performed. The process proceeds to S810, and skipping is not performed. Steps S808, S809, and S810 are mainly processed by the control unit 109.

  After steps S809 and S810, the process proceeds to step S805.

  Note that step S805 mainly corresponds to an operation of closing the screen illustrated in FIG. If the part reproduced by the reproduction unit 105 when the operation for closing the screen is performed is a part where skipping is not permitted, the process may return to step S801. Further, when the playback apparatus 102 is realized using a computer, even if step S805 branches to YES due to the shutdown operation of the computer, the shutdown operation is invalidated and the step The process may return to S801.

(Embodiment 1: Realization of a playback apparatus by a computer)
9 and 10 illustrate a case where the playback apparatus is realized by a computer. FIG. 9 illustrates a functional block diagram of a general computer. The computer 901 has a configuration in which a ROM 901, a RAM 902, a CPU 903, an HDD (hard disk) 904, and an input / output I / F 905 are connected by a bus. The ROM 901 stores a program that operates when the computer 901 is powered on or reset, and the program that reads and executes the first block of the HDD 904 is stored in this program. . As a result, when the power is turned on or reset, the operating system stored in the HDD 904 is activated, and a program that causes the computer 901 to function as a playback device can be operated. The RAM 902 provides a storage area used for operating the program. An input / output I / F 905 inputs / outputs information from / to the outside of the computer 901. The input / output includes reception of content information from the stream server device.

  FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of a state in which a program that causes the computer 901 to function as a playback device is operating. The configuration illustrated in FIG. 9 is hardware 1001 on which an operating system 1002 is operating. A program that causes the computer 901 to function as a playback device operates on the operating system 1002.

  This program includes a reception module 1003, a reproduction module 1004, a skip information extraction module 1005, a skip instruction acquisition module 1006, a skip permission / rejection determination module 1007, and a control module 1008. These modules correspond to the reception unit 104, the reproduction unit 105, the skip information extraction unit 106, the skip command acquisition unit 107, the skip permission / rejection determination unit 108, and the control unit 109 in order.

  The reception module 1003 operates the input / output I / F 905 to receive content information. The received content information is stored in the RAM 902 or the HDD 904. The playback module 1004 reads the stored content information, outputs it to the input / output I / F, and plays back the content. The skip information extraction module 1005 reads the stored content information, extracts the skip information from it, and stores it in the RAM 902 or the HDD 904. The skip command acquisition module 1006 acquires the operation of the screen 601 through the input / output I / F 905 and acquires a skip command. Acquisition of the skip command is transmitted to the skip permission / inhibition judgment module by a function call or the like. The skip permission / inhibition determination module 1007 reads the skip information stored in the RAM 902 and the HDD 904, determines whether or not the skip is permitted, and transmits the determination result to the control module 1008 by a function call or the like. The playback module 1004 controls playback.

(Embodiment 1: Main effects)
According to the present embodiment, since it is possible to limit skipping in reproduction, reproduction according to the intention of the content creator or the like can be performed.

(Embodiment 2)
As a second embodiment, the playback apparatus acquires playback part information including information indicating that a part of the content that has been played back, which indicates that a part that is not permitted to be skipped is played back. A CM-attached content viewing system to be transmitted will be described.

(Embodiment 2: Configuration)
FIG. 11 illustrates a functional block diagram of the CM-attached content viewing system according to the second embodiment. The CM-attached content viewing system 1100 includes a stream server device 101 and a playback device 1101. The stream server apparatus 101 includes a stream transmission unit 103. This point is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  The playback device 1101 includes a reception unit 104, a playback unit 105, a skip information extraction unit 106, a skip command acquisition unit 107, a skip permission / rejection determination unit 108, a control unit 109, a playback part information acquisition unit 1102, and a playback A partial information transmission unit 1103. Therefore, the playback apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured such that the playback apparatus according to the first embodiment further includes a playback part information acquisition unit 1102 and a playback part information transmission unit 1103.

  The “playback part information acquisition unit” 1102 is a part for acquiring playback part information, and is a part for acquiring playback non-skippable part playback information as playback part information.

  “Reproduction portion information” is information indicating a portion in which the reproduction unit 105 has reproduced the content. For example, when playback is performed based on the list illustrated in FIG. 4A, mms: //123.45.67.89/part1. Whether the part of asf has been reproduced, mms: //234.56.78/90/part2. This is information indicating whether or not the asf portion has been reproduced. The playback unit 105 stores, for example, the URL of the played content in a predetermined location in the RAM 902 so that the playback part information acquisition unit 1102 can acquire the part of the content currently being played back. .

  The “skip non-permitted partial reproduction information” is information indicating whether or not a portion where skipping is not permitted is reproduced based on the skip information. For example, mms: //123.45.67.89/part1. This is information indicating that asf has been reproduced. For example, (1) the skip information extracting unit 106 stores the extracted skip information in a predetermined location in the RAM 902, and (2) the reproduction part information acquiring unit 1102 is a predetermined part of the RAM 902. It is generated by reading the URL stored in the location and the skip information stored in a predetermined location, and (3) matching the two. When the playback unit 105 stores the URL at a predetermined location, the playback part information acquisition unit 1102 is notified by performing a function call or the like, and the skip information extraction unit 106 skips the skip information to a predetermined location. May be notified in the same manner. Alternatively, the reproduction part information acquisition unit periodically reads a predetermined place and a predetermined place, detects the presence or absence of a change, and when a change is detected, the reproduction part information including skip non-permitted part reproduction information May be generated and acquired.

  The “playback part information transmission unit” 1103 transmits the playback part information acquired by the playback part information acquisition unit 1102. The transmission may be performed using the same communication line as the reception unit 104 received the content information, or may be performed on a different medium. The transmission destination may be sent to the stream server device 101 or may be sent to a different server device. When transmission is performed to a different server device, for example, the address of the transmission destination may be included in the skip information.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of skip information including the transmission destination address of the reproduction part information. Due to “response =“ 34.56.78.90:5432 ””, the reproduction part information address (34.56.778.90) and the port number (part 1 which is a part that is not permitted to be skipped) are reproduced. 5432) is shown.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of reproduction part information. In this example, mms: //123.45.67.89/part1. It is shown that the content indicated by the URL asf has been reproduced. In addition to the content identification information such as the content URL, the playback partial information may include playback device identification information, playback date and time, cookie information, user attribute information, and the like.

  Thus, the reproduction partial information is transmitted and received by a server device such as a logging server device, whereby a reproduction log can be accumulated in the server device. By analyzing such a log, it is possible to know which content portion has been viewed and how many times in total. By determining the length of the content portion (the length of the content portion itself, the length of the section that was actually played back, etc.), it is possible to know the total length that the content portion was viewed. is there. Thus, by obtaining the total number of times and length, it is possible to calculate the advertisement fee, the content provision fee, etc. by weighting the number of times and the length.

  FIG. 14 exemplifies a formula for calculating an advertisement fee, a content provision fee, and the like by the total number of times and length weighting. The number of accesses is the total number of times, and the playback time is the total length. An advertisement fee or the like is calculated by multiplying the number of accesses by the unit price 1 and multiplying the playback time by a unit price 2 that is not necessarily the same as the unit price 1 and totaling them. For example, the unit price 1 is 0.1 yen / time, and the unit price 2 is 10 yen / hour. Of course, the unit price 1 and the unit price 2 may be determined for each genre of content, or may be determined according to the attribute of the user of the playback device.

  The content similar to the reproduction part information can be obtained from the content information transmission log of the stream server apparatus 101. However, there are known unauthorized means for accumulating content information to be streamed in a file or the like. If such a means is used, the transmission of the content is recorded as the transmission log regardless of whether or not the content is reproduced. However, the reproduction partial information of this embodiment is actually reproduced. Therefore, the configuration according to the present embodiment can obtain information on reproduction more accurately.

  In addition, there is a content information transmission log, but if there is no playback partial information associated with the playback of the content, it can be determined that the content has been illegally stored in a file or the like. It is also possible to verify the effectiveness of countermeasures.

  Also, assuming that the portion where the content is being played when the skip command acquisition unit 107 acquires the skip command is a portion where skipping is not permitted, skipping the result of viewing the content by the user of the playback device Since the instruction was acquired, it can be said that the part was viewed with a probability of almost 100%. Therefore, the playback portion information acquisition unit refers to the determination result of the skip permission / rejection determination unit 108 and generates playback portion information indicating that a skip command has been acquired in playback of a portion where skipping is not permitted. May be. Based on such reproduction part information, it is possible to calculate an advertisement fee or the like, or to review the contents of a content part such as an advertisement.

(Embodiment 2: Main effects)
According to the present embodiment, for example, by setting a portion where skipping is not permitted as an advertisement portion, it is possible to appropriately calculate an advertisement fee or the like according to the reproduction of the advertisement.

  In addition, content portions that are not allowed to be skipped are placed in the content according to a certain rule at short intervals, or randomly placed in the content, so that the content rating rate and viewing length Etc. can be estimated based on sampling.

Functional block diagram of the content viewing system with CM according to the first embodiment Diagram explaining generation of content information Example of content information including a list such as URL Example of content information including a list such as URL Flow chart of processing of stream server device Example of screen when playing content Diagram for explaining processing when skipping to a section where skipping is not permitted Flow chart of processing of playback device Functional block diagram of a general computer Conceptual diagram when the playback device is realized by a computer Functional block diagram of a content viewing system with CM according to the second embodiment An example of skip information including the destination address of the playback part information Example of playback part information Example of calculation formulas for advertising fees and content provision fees

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Content viewing system with CM 101 Stream server apparatus 102 Playback apparatus 103 Stream transmission part 104 Reception part 105 Playback part 106 Skip information extraction part 107 Skip command acquisition part 108 Skip permission determination part 109 Control part

Claims (3)

A stream server device having a stream transmission unit for transmitting a stream based on content information including skip information, which is information for identifying a portion that allows skipping and a portion that does not permit skipping, in the playback device; ,
A receiving unit that receives content information from the stream server device via a communication line;
A playback unit for playing back content based on the content information received by the receiving unit;
A skip information extraction unit that extracts skip information from the content information received by the reception unit;
A skip command acquisition unit for acquiring a skip command;
A skip permission / rejection determination unit that determines, based on the skip information, whether the content part being played back by the playback unit when the skip command is acquired is a part that is allowed to be skipped or a part that is not allowed to be skipped;
A control unit that controls skipping in the playback unit according to a determination result in the skip permission / rejection determination unit;
A playback device having
Content viewing system with CM. The playback device
A playback part information acquisition unit that acquires playback part information indicating a part where the content has been played back by the playback unit, wherein a part that is not permitted to be skipped is played back as playback part information based on skip information A reproduction part information acquisition unit for acquiring and including skip non-permitted partial reproduction information indicating whether or not the reproduction part information is included;
A reproduction part information transmission unit for transmitting the reproduction part information acquired by the reproduction part information acquisition unit;
The content viewing system with CM according to claim 1, comprising: An operation method of a CM-attached content viewing system comprising a stream server device and a playback device,
In the stream server device, a step for performing stream transmission of content information including skip information that is information for identifying a portion of the content that is allowed to be skipped and a portion that is not permitted to be skipped in the playback device;
In the playback device,
A receiving step of receiving content information from the stream server device via a communication line;
A reproduction step of reproducing the content information received in the reception step;
A skip information extraction step of extracting skip information from the content information received in the reception step;
A skip command acquisition step for acquiring a skip command;
A skip permission / rejection determination step for determining, based on the skip information, whether the content part being played back in the playback step when the skip command is acquired is a part where skipping is permitted or a part where skipping is not permitted;
A control step for controlling skipping in the reproduction step according to a determination result in the skip permission / rejection determination step;
Operation method of content viewing system with CM including

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